Humidifier



Jan. 5, 1932. C. TQEPFER 1,839,618

HUMIDIFIER Filed March 20, 1930 n fpm/7227A. @f

Patented Jan. 5, 1932 STATES GEORGE O. TOEPFER, OF MLWAUKEE, WISCONSINHUMIDIFIER REISSUED Application led March 20, 1930. Serial No. 437,355.

This invention relates to an air humidifier especially designed andadapted for use in dwellings although also adapted for universalapplication. One of the principal objects of the invention is to providean air humidifier which is adapted for organization with the smoke pipeor flue of the heating plant and which while of extremely simple anddurable construction is nevertheless reliable, automatic and eiective inoperation in that it properly humidiies or moistens the air and insuresits natural circulation throughout the rooms of the dwelling.

In carrying out the present invention a single enclosure or casingsurrounds a portion of the smoke pipe or flue leading from the heatingplant. Internally the enclosure is divided by a batheor partition intoan air heating chamber and a vapor generating chamber. The air inlet isto the lower side of the air heating chamber and the distributing systemfor the humidiied air connects to the upper portion of the vaporgenerating chamber at the end thereof remote from the air heatingchamber so that the air is constrained to travel through the entireextent of the air heating chamber and around the portion of the heatedsmoke pipe or iiue extending therethrough and then passes throughout thefull length of the vapor generating chamber and out through thedistributing system. During its travel through the vapor generatingchamber the heated air becomes saturated with the heated vapor thereinand after thus being humidifed is carried by the distributing systeminto one of the rooms on the lower Hoor of the house and circulatesthroughout the entire interior of the dwelling.

In. the vapor generating chamber means is provided for creating a nelydividedv mist or heated vapor and may consist of a spray o ysystemhaving nozzles supplied with water 45 under the control ofan-electromagnetic valve embodied in one of the electrical circuits ofan oil burner and consequently opened when the oil burner is inoperation. The vapor generating means may also consist of a floatcontrolled water supply valve which maintains a constant level lof wateraround the portion of the heated smoke pipe or flue extending throughthe vapor generating chamber. As the water is constantly heated a vaporor mist will rise from the surface thereof and into the path of theheated air. Preferably, the portions of the smoke pipe eX- tendingthrough the air heating and vapor generating. chamber are corrugated toincrease the heat radiating surfaces thereof. The portion of the smokepipe in the vapor generating chamber may have transverse tubes toaugment the heating action thereof. Other objects and advantages residein certain novel features of the construction, arrangement andcombination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and inwhich:

Figure lis a fragmentary perspective vie showing one type ofconstruction embodying my invention, parts being broken away and shownin section for the sake of illustration; and

Figure 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in verticalsection showing another construction embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen so that in both forms of theinvention an enclosure or casing designated generally at l is providedand may have a removable top or cover 2 which in use is firmly securedto the main portion of the casing. The casing 1 is 85 supported upon asection of a smoke pipe or Hue designated generally at 3, the smoke pipeextending from the heating plant designated diagrammatically at 4. Asshown in the drawings, the section of the smoke pipe 3 9o upon which thecasing 1 is supported extends longitudinally through the interior of thecasing, that is, through suitably packed openings 5in the end walls ofthe casing and also 5 through a suitably packed opening 6 provided in aninternal partition or baille 7. The partition or baille 7 extendsbetween and is integral with or suitably connected to the side walls andis also integral with or con-- 10 nected to the bottom wall of thecasing but it terminates short of the top wall of the casing. As will beunderstood from the drawings the partition 7 separates the interior ofthe casing 1 into an air heating chamber or space 10 and a vaporgenerating space 11, the air heating chamber communicating with Lthevapor generating space over the top of the baiie or partition 7.

In the portion of the bottom wall of the casing 1, which communicateswith the air heating chamber, an air inlet 12 is provided. In the top orcover 2 an outlet'nipple 13 for the humidified air is provided andconnects to a pipe 14 forming part of a distributing system whichpreferably includes, as shown in Figure l, a register 15 located in thelower portion of one of the rooms of the rst ioorA of the dwelling` Theoutlet nipple^13 is located at the end of the vapor generated hamberremote from the air heating cham- In both forms of the invention meansis provid-ed for producing a vapor or mist in the lvapor generatingchamber so that the air which enters through theinlet 12 and is heatedduring its travel around a portion of the smoke pipe extending throughthe chamber 10 will travel through this mist or spray and be humidiiedor moistened therel by during its passage to the distributing sys- ,m o

In Figure 1 this means is shown as comprising a plurality of spraynozzles 20 which are positioned adjacent the partition 7 and whichincline downwardly and inwardly into the vapor generating chamber. Thenozzles 20 may be of any suitable construction and are carried onbranches 21 of a water supply pipe 22. An electromagnetic valve 23 isincorporated in the water su ply pipe. Normally, this valve 23 is biase`(as by a spring, not shown) to closed position but when the windings ofits magnet are energized it is automatically opened. The details of theconstruction of the valve are not shown as this type of valve is wellknown and widelyL used for various purposes. The windings of thelelectromagnetic valve are connected by wires 24 across wires 25 embodiedin one of the electrical circuits of an oil burner or the like so thatwhenever the oil burner is in operation the'current owing through thewires 25 will flow in part through wires 24 and consequently through thewindings of the magnet to energize the magnet and open the valve.l Whenthe valve 23 is opened iinely divided sprays issue from the nozzles 20and strike against the heated smoke pipe 3. This results in thegeneration of the vapor which fills the interior of the vapor generatingchamber and acts to appropriately moisten the heated air travelingtherethrough. A drain .pipe 30 may be connected with the low- `erportion of the chamber 11 of the form of the invention shown in Figure 1to carry oil' any condensate, that may be formed. The drain pipe 30preferably has a trap 31 embodied therein.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 2 a different means isshown for generating the mist or vapor in the upper portion of thechamber 11. As illustrated, this means consists of a water supply pipe35 having a downwardly directed discharge nipple 36. Between the nipple36 and its supply pipe 35 a float controlled valve 37 of anyconventional or suitable construction is interposed. This valve 37operates to maintain a constant level of water'in the chamber 11, thewater surrounding at least a portion of the smoke pipe or flue 3extending through the chamber 11 and being heated thereby.

In both forms of the invention the section of the smoke pipe organizedwith the casing 1 may be corrugated as, for example, as illustrated inFigure 2, for the purpose of increasing the heating effect. The heatingaction of the smoke pipe on the water may be further augmented byproviding transverse tubes 40, as illustrated in Figure 2.

In either form of the invention the portion of the smoke pipe in the airheating chamber heats the air therein and the air, under the inuence ofnatural. convection currents, rises through the air heating chamber 10and passes through the upper portion of the vapor generating chamber 11and up through the pipe 14 and out through the register 15 and into theinterior of the dwelling through which it naturally circulates. Duringits travel through the upper portion of the vapor generating chamber itpasses through the mist createdl therein and is thoroughly humidiied. Ineither form of the invention the creation of the mist is automaticallymaintained-whenever the smoke pipe is heated or in other words wheneverthere is need for humidifying the air. In the form of the inventionshownin Figure 1 the smoke pipe in the chamber 11 is sprayed wheneverthe oil burner is in operation. In the form of the invention shown inFigure 2 there is a constant level of water maintained in the chamber 11and whenevern the hot gas travels through the smoke pipe this water isheated and a vapor or mist produced. It is to be noted that in bothforms of the invention the heated air is constrained t9 travelthroughout the entire length of the heating chamber.

The inventlon claimed is z' 1. A humidifier for use with a heating planthaving a smoke pipe and comprising a casin having a transverse internalpartition dividmg the casing into an air heating chamber and a vaporgenerating chamber, said chambers being spaced longitudinally of thecasing, said partition terminating short of the top of the casing toprovide for low of the heated air from the air heating chamber into thevapor generating chamber, the ends of the Casin and the partition havingopenings throug which the smoke pipe extends, an air inlet into the airheating chamber, means for creating a vapor in the vapor generatingchamber and comprising spray nozzles for directing sprays against theportion of the smoke pipe in the vapor generating chamber, and adistributing system connected to the vapor generating chamber.

2. A humidifier for use with a heating plant having a smoke pipe andcomprising a casing having an integral partition dividing the casinginto an air heating chamber and a vapor generating chamber, the ends ofthe casing and the partition having openings through which the smokepipe extends,ean air inlet into'the air heating chamber, means forcreating a vapor in the vapor generating chamber and comprising spraynozzles for directing sprays against the portion of the smoke pipe inthe vapor generating chamber a water supply pipe for supplying the spraynozzles with water and an electromagnetically controlled valve forregulating the flow of water through said supply pipe.

3. A humidifier for use with a heating 'plant having a smoke pipe andcomprising a casing having a transverse internal partition dividing thecasing into an air heating chamber located at one end of the casing anda vapor generating chamber located at the other end thereof, the ends ofthe casing and the partition having openings through which the smokepipe extends, said partition terminating below the top of the casing toprovide for flow of the heated air from the air heating chamber to thevapor generating chamber, an air inlet into the air heating chamber,means for creating a vapor in the vapor generating chamber and adistributing system connected to the vapor generating chamber.

4. A humidifier 'for use with a heating plant having a smoke pipe andcomprising a casing made up of side Walls, a bottom wall, end walls anda top, said casing having a transverse internal partition locatedintermediate its ends and extending between the side walls and connectedto the bottom wall but terminating short of the top wall, said end wallsand said partition having longitudinally alined openings through whichthe smoke pipe extends, said partition dividing said casing internallyinto an air heatin chamber located at one end of the casing an ture.

GEORGE O. TOEPFER.

